Ankle-protector.



No. s72,|46. Patented Apr. l6, I90l. H. J. coLus.

ANKLE PROTECTOR. rA uca-eiim filed Apr. 14, 1900.

(no Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY JAMES OOLLIS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FAN KLE-PROTECTO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,146, dated April 16, 1901.

Application filed lipril 14, 1900. Serial No. 12,848. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY JAMES OoLLIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ankle-Protectors for Athletes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for protecting the ankle portion of the foot, and is especially designed for use in athletic exercises.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and improved device of this character which will not only effectively protect the ankle, but which will operate to brace and strengthen the same, which will be inexpensive, convenient, and generally efficient, and which can be readily applied in position or removed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a protective device embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a view of the inside of the device, showing the same opened. Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the ankle portion of the device. Fig. 4isadetail sectional view.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same numerals of reference.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the body of the device, which is formed of leather or analogous flexible materialand which comprises two side portions or uppers 2, adapted to surround the ankle portion of the foot, which side portions are extended at the top a suitable distance, as at 3, so that they surround the portion of the leg immediately above the ankle. The sides 2 of the body 1 are preferably respectively formed of separate pieces of leather, which are secured together by a vertical back seam, asat 4, intoriorly reinforced by a longitudinal strip, as at 5, the front edges of said side portions 2, as at 6, being left open and provided with a lacing 7, by means of which the device -is adapted to be secured in position. Said lacing 7 preferably consists of an ordinary lacing-cord passed through a series of openings 8, provided at the front edge portions of the side members 2, said perforated front edge portions being preferably reinforced by a strip, as at 9, extending longitudinally and interiorly at said perforated edge and secured by stitching or otherwise-to the side members 2. The openings 8 are preferably simply punched through the edge 6 of the members 2 and through the reinforcing-strip 9, the construction in this relation being sufficiently strong to maintain the openings in normal condition without tearing or damage from the drawing of the laces and without necessitating any eyelets or other metallic devices. A soft bearing against the front of the ankle portion of the foot without the disadvantages of any metallic pieces at this point is thus enabled. The lower portion of the said members 2, at the front, just beneath the lacing edge 6, is preferably extended forwardly, as at 10, so that the said members 2 of the body 1 project to a limited extent over the instep portion of the foot. It will of course be understood that the whole device is soft and flexible and that the said members 2 of the body 1 are cut in pattern, so that they neatly and effectively conform to the ankle portion, which the device is adapted to compress and inclose, and it will be further noted that the device is adapted for a soft compression at all points, there being no metallic parts to bind against the flesh. From the lower edges of the side members 2 there extends downwardlya loop or strap, as at 11, which is adapted to extend underthe foot of the wearer, just in advance of the heel,-and assist in retaining the device in position and against upward or vertical movement or displacement. It will be noted that the lower portion of the body 1, embodying the loop or strap 11, is of skeleton form, so that the heel and the lower part of the front portion of the foot are left free and unhampered in their mobile action.

At the top portion of the body 1, above the vertical back seam 4, the side members 2 are cut away to form a free portion l2,which contains an elastic gore 13, the constructionjust described being preferably carried out by simply cutting away the rear edges of the sides 2 at the top, above the top end of the seam 4, to form an approximately V-shaped free portion, which is spanned by the elastic gore 13, the latter being interior] y secured by simply having its edges stitched to the inner face of the sides 2, as shown at 14. The lower end of the V-shaped elastic gore 13 preferably intersects and is secured beneath the top end of the interior back reinforcing-strip 5. The elastic top gore of the body 1 at the back, as just set forth, imparts a free elastic movement at the top portion of the device during its use in athletic exercises. At the inner face of each of said members 2, in a position directly coincident with the ankle portion proper, is secured a pad 15,which is preferably disk-shaped and embodies a surface consisting of a wad or cushion of lambs wool, as at 16, said lambs wool being preferably mounted upon asoft kid or leather base-disk 17, which is preferably circular in form and stitched at its edge, as at 18, to the said member 2. These soft cushions 15 are of sufiicient area or extent to well cover the respective sides of the ankle portion of the foot and are held in compression against the same when the device is secured in position. It will be understood that they effectively operate to thoroughly protect the ankle and brace the same and that at the same time any liability of friction or harsh rubbing or abrasion is entirely precluded. The base-disk 17 of the interior ankle-cushions 16 is preferably unseeffectively compress and brace or protect the full ankle portion without causing friction or abrasion, and at the same time it is adapted by its flexibility to permit full mobility of the ankle.

My invention is particularly adapted to service in the playing of foot-ball, base-ball, cricket, golf, and similar athletic games, in which there is danger of striking the ankle with balls or other implements of the game, and in this connection the device, being entirely flexible throughout its whole structure, is adapted to be Worn inside the ordinary shoe used in games of this character.

It is manifest that variations in the details of construction and arrangement may be made within the scope of my invention and improvements. I therefore do not restrict myself to the exact construction and arrangement of parts as herein shown and described, but reserve the right to all such variations or modifications as properly come within the spirit of my invention and the terms of the following claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- As an improved article of manufacture, an athletic ankle device of the class described, comprising a flexible and non-elastic body adapted to inclose and conform to the ankle portion of the foot, said body being open throughout at its front and closed at its rear, an elastic gore set into the upper rear portion of said body and imparting a yielding relation between the top portion of the sides of the body, and pads or cushions secured at the opposite inner faces of said body and adapted in arrangement to bear with respect to the ankle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

HENRY JAMES COLLIS.

Witnesses:

CHARLES A. STEPHENS, O. H. TIBBET'IS. 

